Lawrence GLENNAN and Mary Jane HUGHES

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​LAWRENCE GLENNAN (My Great Grandfather) (c.1835 - 1912), son of John GLENNAN and Catherine HACKETT, was baptised on 15 February 1835 in Navanstown, Kildare, County Kildare, Ireland.

Lawrence emigrated from Ireland aged 6, with his parents and siblings. They left Dundee, Scotland on 16 September 1841, aboard the ship "Anne Milne" as bounty immigrants and arrived in Sydney, Australia on 17 January 1842. See Shipping Records. The "Arrival of the 'Anne Milne'" was reported in The Sydney Herald, 18 January, 1842, page 2.

On 6 April 1858, Lawrence, aged 23, married his first wife, Margaret McDONALD in Rock Flat, Cooma, NSW. Both Lawrence and Margaret being unable to write, made their marks. Margaret, the daughter of Alexander McDonald and Jessie Chisolm, was born in Sydney on 10 August 1840, and baptised on 16 August 1840 in the Parish of St. James.

On Wednesday, 30 July 1873, The Manaro Mercury & Cooma & Bombala Advertiser, page 2 reported from the "Cooma Police Court : Assault of Lawrence Glennan" at Cooma Creek on 21 July 1873. It appears Margaret and Lawrence were having a party with friends and family where dancing took place. The men charged with assault had not been invited to the party but had arrived uninvited. A disagreement about dancing took place and two men went outside to fight. Lawrence went outside to calm the situation but was struck in the face with one man's fists and he struck back. Shortly after the men ran away but returned three quarters of an hour later. Lawrence answered the door and as he was walking outside was jabbed in the face with a 10ft rail. Lawrence returned to his house and grabbed his gun, which was loaded with shot and fired it in the direction of the men. Lawrence was said to have not been drunk but he was also not very sober. Evidence was given that Margaret Glennan had attempted to intervene and was chased around the house with an axe. The case was dismissed, but Lawrence applied for a copy of the depositions, with a view to appeal to the Quarter Sessions.

Margaret died aged 35 of Consumption on 10 March 1876 in Cooma Creek, Cooma, NSW.

​Mary Jane HUGHES (My Great Grandmother) (1860-1940), daughter of William SWEENEY and Margaret GORDON, was born in December 1860 in Sydney, NSW but no birth registration can be found. On 12 February 1861, Mary Jane aged 9 weeks, and her mother Margaret Gordon, a singlewoman aged 20, were admitted to the Sydney Benevolent Asylum on the recommendation of Thomas Makenna esq. The admissions register states that William Sweeney, jockey of Broulee, was the father of Mary Jane. Margaret and Mary Jane were discharged from the Benevolent Asylum on 13 Apr 1861 "to the service of Mr. Ryan, Manero". When Mary Jane was 2½, her mother, married William Hughes. Mary Jane thereafter used the surname Hughes.

Lawrence GLENNANaged 42, (although he gave his age as 38) married his second wife, Mary Jane HUGHES aged 17 on 8 May 1877 in St Patrick's Church Cooma. Family information says Mary Jane was living with the Glennan family looking after the children either during Margaret's illness or after she died. ​

Glennan sisters taken at their boarding school about 1895.
Back: Margaret and Ann Glennan;
Middle: Ada Glennan;
Front: Catherine and Lavina Glennan

Lawrence, farmer and old age pensioner, died aged 79, of carcinoma of the stomach, lasting 6 months, and asthenia (loss of strength) on 21 March 1912 at 29 Ben Boyd Rd, Neutral Bay, NSW. He was buried on 23 March 1912 in the Gore Hill Cemetery, Roman Catholic Section Gore Hill, NSW, Row D Plot 7. The informant was P.F. Glennan, son of 29 Ben Boyd Rd, Neutral Bay.An Obituary was published on 1 April 1912 in the The Manaro Mercury, & Cooma & Bombala Advertiser, page 2:

"The death of Mr. Lawrence Glennan, at the age of 79 years, is reported to have taken place a few days ago at his residence, Ben Boyd Road, Neutral Bay, Sydney. Deceased, who was a grazier in the Cooma district for many years, left for Sydney a year or two ago. He arrived in New South Wales 73 years ago with his parents in the ship Ann Millen. He was a native of County Kildare, Ireland. He married twice, his first wife being Margaret McDonald, his family comprising six sons and four daughers. His second wife was Mary Hughes, the issue being eight daughters and two sons. He leaves 30 grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters. In the early days he took up one of the first blocks of land under Torrens Title, on the Cooma Creek and was a farmer and grazier. He was the first to introduce the merino sheep there. He will be remembered by the old inhabitants as of a generous disposition, and it is said that no man ever left his door hungry."

​Mary Jane died aged 80 of senility on 14 December 1940 in 10 Clarke St, Berala, NSW. She was buried in the Roman Catholic Section of Gore Hill Cemetery, Row D Plot 7 with her husband. Her children Margaret & Peter are in the adjoining plot. The informant was her daughter, Ann Bathie of Second Ave, Lidcombe, NSW.

Mary Jane Glennan nee Hughes (1860-1940)

Mary Jane Glennan nee Hughes (1860-1940)

​Lawrence GLENNAN and Margaret McDONALD (his 1st wife) had the following children:

1. Unnamed male child (1859-1859).

2. John Joseph GLENNAN (1860-1942).

Sarah McDonald and John Joseph Glennan

John Joseph Glennan and Kezia Anne Swords

​The above photos are of John Joseph Glennan and his two wives.

​John was born at Cooma Creek in 1860. He was a Labourer. He married (1) Sarah McDONALD on 13 November 1882 in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Cooma. They had six daughters, Margaret Sarah 1883, Mary Catherine 1886, Janet I 1889, Gertrude Elizabeth 1891, Eleanor A 1893 and Cecilia A. 1895-1896 and (2) Kezia Anne SWORDS on 26 May 1909 in All Saints Church, Liverpool, NSW.John died, aged 82, in 1942 in Randwick, NSW.3. Alexander GLENNAN (1863-1891). Alexander was born on 10 June 1863 in Cooma. On 25 January 1888, Alexander was mentioned in the NSW Police Gazette "A warrant has been issued by the Buckley's Crossing Bench for the arrest of Alexander Glennan, charged with assaulting Wilbraham Edwards Esq J.P. Alexander was described as being about 22 years of age, 5 ft 6 or 7 inches high, stout build, clean shaved, brown hair, white moleskin trousers, dark paget coat, elastic sided boots. Supposed to have gone to Victoria." On 16 Jan 1889 he was again mentioned in the NSW Police Gazette "Alexander Glennan, charged with unlawfully obstructing W. Edwards, Esq., J.P. at his lawful occupation, has been arrested by the Nimitybelle Police. Fined £5 and costs, or two months' in Cooma Gaol. Fine paid." Alexander died, aged 25, on 25 Oct 1891 after an 11 month battle with an abscess on his spine. He spent 10 months at Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney where he underwent 6 operations. His death was reported in The Monaro Mercury & Cooma & Bombala Advertiser. He was buried in the old cemetery.​​4. James Anthony GLENNAN (1865-1929)

James was born on 10 Dec 1865 in Cooma Creek, Cooma.In 1882 James and his older brother Alexander ran away from home and their father placed an advertisement in The Manaro Mercury & Cooma & Bombala Advertiser, Saturday, 7 January 1882, page 2"CAUTION - JAMES A. GLENNAN and ALEXANDER GLENNAN having left their home without cause, any person found harbouring them in any way whatever will be prosecuted, they being under age. L. GLENNAN, Rose Farm, Cooma, 5th January, 1882"James married Susanna Mary McTavish on 7 Jan 1895 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Cooma. Children: Lawrence Alexander Duncan 1897-1958); Arthur J 1898; John J 1900; Margaret Susanna 1902; Charles Anthony 1905; Florence L 1906-7; Clarence Stanley 1910; Ernest Sylvester 1912; Maurice Edmund 1913-14. James died in 1929 aged 64, at Goulburn, NSW.5. Joseph GLENNAN (1868-1899)

Gaol Photo Joseph Glennan 1886

Joseph was born on 11 Oct 1868 in Cooma.On 1 Apr 1886, aged 17, he was convicted in Cooma of arson after being charged with wilfully and maliciously setting fire to a stack of hay, value £12 the property of John Bartley (his cousin) and was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. He was described as being 5 ft 5 inches tall with light brown hair and gray eyes. The photo was taken in 1886 at the Gaol where he served his sentence. He was a shepherd.

Joseph died aged 30 of tubercular peritonitis lasting 4 months, on 13 Jan 1899. He was a general labourer and unmarried.

6. Lawrence GLENNAN (1871-1947). Lawrence was born on 2 March 1871 in Cooma. He died in 1947 in Auburn, NSW. He was buried in the Catholic Section of Rookwood Cemetery, with his half-sister Ann Bathie.

​7. Jessie Mary GLENNAN (1873-1945).

Jessie Mary Peters nee Glennan and sister Lavina

﻿Jessie was born on 14 June 1873 in Cooma. She was christened as Janette but always went by the name Jessie Mary.

She married David PETERS on 15 December 1897 at Rock Flat in Cooma. They had six children: Margaret 1898-99; Mary Margaret 1900-44; David 1902-54; Francis Xaviour 1904-68; John J 1907; Albert Thomas 1915.

Jessie died, aged 71, on 25 March 1945 in Bega, NSW.

​​ ​8. Catherine GLENNAN (1875-1877). Catherine was born on 17 August 1875 in Cooma, and died aged 1½, in 1877 in Cooma.​

May was born on 5 March 1878 in Cooma and baptised on 26 March 1878 in Cooma. She married Robert Asprey O'BRIEN in 1903 in Leichhardt, NSW and they had the following children: Renie 1903, Patrick 1905, Robert 1908, Jack 1910 and Annie.May died, aged 81, on 15 December 1959 at 115 Mansfield St, Rozelle, NSW of a cerebral haemorrhage. She had also been suffering senility, recurrent pneumonia for 4 years and atherosclerosis for 20 years. She was buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Field of Mars, Ryde, NSW.2. William GLENNAN (1879-1896).

​William was born in 1879 in Cooma. He died, aged 17 of broncho-pneumonia lasting 24 days on 25 September 1896 in Cooma Hospital. He was a labourer and unmarried.3. Margaret Ignatius GLENNAN (1880-1914).

Margaret Ignatius Glennan (1880-1914)

Margaret was born on 23 May 1880 at Rose Farm, Cooma Creek, Cooma. She was known as Reenie. She died, aged 34, at Woodlands Station, near Denman, NSW on 9 December 1914. She suffered a fractured skull and broken neck caused by being thrown from a horse. She was due to be married soon after at Christmas. Her occupation was domestic duties. Two newspapers reported the details of the inquest into her death although incorrectly naming her as Ethel Glennon. The Maitland Daily Mercury, Tuesday, 8 December 1914, page 3 and The Muswellbrook Chronicle, Wednesday 9 December 1914, page 2. See her Funeral Notice in the Sydney Morning Herald.Margaret was buried on 9 December 1914 in the New Roman Catholic Section D, Plot 6 at Gore Hill Cemetery, St. Leonards, NSW. She was buried with her brother Peter Francis Glennan. Her parents, Lawrence and Mary Jane Glennan are in the adjoining plot. ​

She married (1) Owen BOLLARD (1866-1911) on 29 November 1899 at St. Patrick's, Cooma. They had five children but only one survived. Amelia Mary May 1900-1972; Grace 1906-1906; Bedelia E 1907-1907 and twins, Margaret Ada and Thomas John 1908-1908.

She married (2) George Joseph BILTON (1888-1919) on 20 August 1912 at Sacred Heart Church, Mosman, NSW.

She married (3) Lance BATHIE on 23 January 1920 at St. Francis Church, North Sydney, NSW. The witnesses were my grandparents, Peter and Mona Glennan.

Ann died, aged 85, of a cerebral haemorrhage and cerebral arteriosclerosis on 3 May 1967 at the Parramatta Convalescent Hospital, Parramatta, NSW. She was buried in the Catholic Section of Rookwood Cemetery, NSW with her half-brother Lawrence.

She left a will with assets totaling $14,351. These assets comprised a house at 70 Second Ave, Berala, left to her grandson Owen Croucher and his wife Lorraine Croucher. Her daughter, Amelia Mary May Croucher received cash of $4,851.

​Catherine was born on 9 November 1887 in Nimmitabel, NSW. She married Alfred WALKER in 1916 in Neutral Bay, NSW. They had no children. Catherine died aged 84, from hypostatic pneumonia, cerebral arteriosclerosis and senility on 14 November 1971 at the Abrina Convalescent Home, Ashfield. Her usual residence was 55A East Crescent St, North Sydney. She was buried at the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Waverley, NSW.Catherine left a will leaving assets of $75,130 to her sister, Lavina McKeon. These assets comprised three houses, 45 East Cres, McMahon's Point and 14 & 16 Armstrong St, North Sydney plus cash of $30,130.

8. Lavina Bridget GLENNAN (1890-1972). Known as Biddy, Lavina was born in 7 December 1890 in Violet Valley, Nimmitybelle, NSW. She married Thomas Francis McKEON on 17 March 1916 in St. Joseph's Church, Neutral Bay, NSW. They had no children.Lavina died, aged 82, of probable pulmonary embolus, cellulitis and thrombophlebitis of the right leg on 29 September 1972 in St. Joseph's Hospital, Auburn, NSW. She was buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Rookwood, NSW.She left a will leaving assets of $79,536 to her niece in-law. These assets comprised four houses, 10 Clark St, Berala, 45 East Cres, McMahon's Point and 14 & 16 Armstrong St, North Sydney plus cash of $13,336.​

Lavina Bridget Glennan

Lavina Bridget Glennan

Lavina Bridget Glennan and husband Thomas Francis McKeon.

9. Mary Annedy GLENNAN (1898-1899). Mary was born in Cooma in November 1898. She died, aged 4 months, of enteritis lasting 14 days on 15 March 1899 at Daisy Dell Farm, Cooma. She was buried at the Old Roman Catholic Cemetery, Cooma. The informant was her father, Lawrence Glennan of Daisy Dell Farm.